The hottest History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Shrewd Monk, Stubborn Emperor (Part III)

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
💾 History Medieval Monarchy
  1. The conflict between the Pope and the Emperor didn't stem from lay investiture, but from the papacy seeking influence over Northern Italy and opposing German Emperor's claims.
  2. Subinfeudation was a common political challenge in medieval monarchies, where nobility could claim control over lands, weakening the central monarch's power.
  3. Excommunicating a monarch, as Gregory VII did with Heinrich IV, was a potent political tool at the time, affecting the monarch's legitimacy and support.

Do Not Research: Mont‐Pèlerin Field Trip

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
💾 History Neoliberalism Economic Development Corruption
  1. After WWII, the Mont‐Pèlerin Field Trip laid the foundation for neoliberalism as a new economic orthodoxy.
  2. The Mont‐Pèlerin building intended to be luxury apartments lies empty due to halted credit flows and investor interest vanishing.
  3. One of the shareholders of the holding company involved in the Mont‐Pèlerin development has been implicated in fraud and money laundering, showcasing the dark side of neoliberalism.

A history of elliptic curves in tweets

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 04 Sep 20
💾 History Mathematics Cryptography Science
  1. The history of elliptic curves dates back to the work of prominent mathematicians like Kepler, Newton, and Leibniz, who laid the foundation for further exploration.
  2. Various mathematicians such as Bernoulli, Liouville, and Legendre made significant contributions to understanding elliptic integrals and functions, paving the way for further advancements in mathematics.
  3. Elliptic curves have not only played a crucial role in mathematics but also in modern cryptography, where figures like Diffie-Hellman and NSA have explored their encryption capabilities.

Holly O: Hyperborea

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 30 Mar 21
💾 History Myth Europe Asia Nationalism Occult
  1. Hyperborea, the mythological land beyond the northern wind, has intrigued Europeans since ancient times, believed to be the winter home of Apollo with eternal sunshine.
  2. The possible locations of Hyperborea have been suggested to include Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles, Scandinavia, and even Northern Asia, with different cultural associations over time.
  3. Despite the unlikelihood of Hyperborea's existence, its legend continues to captivate people, sparking renewed interest and speculation about its location and nature.

Roman Responses to Christianity

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
💾 History Religion Empire Persecution Traditions Society
  1. Christians were initially considered a Jewish sect, but later separated themselves, leading to challenges and persecution
  2. Romans viewed Christians as a new religious sect, treated them as heretics, and saw their beliefs as a threat to the state
  3. The Roman persecution of Christians highlights the clash of new religions with established orders, offering insights for building fantasy worlds
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The Problem with the Persistence Literature

Something to Consider • 0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
💾 History Economic History Historical Events Research Methodology
  1. Many studies look at how past events affect the present but often don't help us understand future outcomes. It's easy to tell stories about what happened before, but challenging to predict how current events will shape the future.
  2. Some research does use past events to study how systems and institutions work, which is more useful. These studies can help us understand why some countries thrive while others do not.
  3. Not all papers in the persistence literature are valuable. If they only focus on how past events influence today without making any connections to the future, they might not be worth our time.

THE CHINESE GHOST OF STEWART'S FOLLY

Marlene’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 04 May 23
💾 History Scandals
  1. Stewart's Castle, once considered 'Stewart's Folly,' was a grand but short-lived mansion built in Washington D.C. after the Civil War.
  2. The mysterious haunting at Stewart's Folly was connected to the Chinese Legation that occupied the building from 1886 to 1893.
  3. Tragic stories of unrequited love and possible suicide intertwined with the history of Stewart's Castle, adding a ghostly element to its narrative.